Woven fabrics



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. BIRCH.

APPARATUS FOR BLEAGHING WOVEN FABRICS, &c.

No. 256,957. Patented Apr-. 25, 1882.

N. PETERS. Pnwlwmho m vwr. wnsmngton. D. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. BIRCH.

APPARATUS FOR BLEAGHING WOVEN FABRIGS, 6m.

Patented Apr. 25, 1882.

N. PETERS. Fholmlhhographur, Washmgtnn. n. c.

1 UNtTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BIRCH, OF SALFORD, COUNTY OF LANCASTER, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING WOVEN FABRICS, 84.0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,957, dated April 25, 1882.

Application filed February 6, 1882.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BIRCH, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at Salford, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented Improvements in Keirs orApparatusforBleachingand otherwise Treating Woven Fabrics and Yarn Coutinuously, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 1.,610, dated November 10,1880,) of which the following is a specification.

The keiring of woven fabrics and yarn has hitherto been performedintermittently by placing the goods in bulk into the heir provided with the desired liquor, and then closing the kcir up and turning on the steam, special means being sometimes adopted for the circulation of the liquor among the goods, and then when the process has been going on for a period sufflciently long the heir is opened and the goods are removed therefrom.

The object of the improvements is the construction of apparatus for the non-intermittent or continuous treatment-such as bleachin g, dyeing, dunging, soaping, washing, steaming, and the like-of woven fabrics and yarn under steanrpressure-that is to say, apparatus into which the goods are continuously being introduced and taken out, and in which the goods are consequently, at any time during the working of the apparatus, in all stages of maturity. For this purpose I attach to the water-space of the keir or other vessel used an upright tube of suitable shape and capacity, and of such length as to balance by the column of liquid contained therein the pressure of the steam employed in the keir. This tube is filled with liquor, through which the goods are drawn into the keir over guide or friction rollers and out again through the same or another tube. The tube or tubes may be of segmental, circular, or other section, and may be with or without a mid-feather, and the goods treated may be open or in rope form. I prefer treating open, and employ the angular guide and'governor described in the specifications of Letters Patent granted to me in Great Britain, Nos. 2,610 of 1870 and 84 and 4,368 of 1877, to keep them open and central.

The pressurejn the keir or other vessel used,

and also the supply of liquor, may or may not be regulated automatically by means of floats (No model.) Patented in England November 10, 1880.

connected by suitable levers and connections with the valves regulating the admission.

To regulate the pressure I connect acistern at or near the top of the tube, which cistern contains a float suitably connected with the steam-valve, and when an excess of pressure in the keir forces the liquor up the tube and in the cistern the float rises and shuts off or reduces the supply of steam. For the regulation of the level of the liquor I place a float or floats in the keir, which floats are suitably connected with the liquor pump or valve. Besides friction-rollers the keir or other vessel may also be fitted with heaters, agitators, and with draw-rollers, if desired, to relieve strain on the goods.

Instead of one large keir, a number of keirs maybe connected together, and the goods may pass from one into the other; or the goods may successively pass from one keir or apparatus containing liquor or a medium of a certain description into another keir, keirs, or apparatus containing liquors or mediums of a different nature, according to the requirements of each particular case.

The apparatus may also be adapted for workin g under vacuum instead of pressure, the inlet and outlet tube or tubes being in this case turned downward and up again in the shape of siphons. hen used for the purpose of steaming the apparatus takes a similar form, having a short siphon or merely a lute.

It will be seen that the length of the inlet tube or tubes depends on the pressure or vacuum to be used, about thirty-three feet being allowed for each fifteen pounds pressure on the square inch.

The tubes may be attached in any manner most suitable, according to the requirements of each individual case.

In order to further elucidate my invention, I illustrate an arrangement of a bleaching-keir more or less complete, omitting minor details and those of ordinary construction 5 and I also show some modifications in skeleton. In each case both details and general arrangement may be considerably varied without departing from the general character of the invention. Thus the keirs or vessels may be upright, and the fabric may in any case run either vertically or horizontally. The cylindrical form of vessel is adopted as being the strongest; but-any form of vessel may be used, especially for low pressures.

In the drawings, Sheet 1 shows a bleachingkeir in sectional plan, longitudinal and cross section, and end view in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Fig. 5 is a section of the tube or funnel for the inlet and outlet of the goods.

The keir K is a cylindrical vessel with segmental ends; T, the tube or funnel with midfeather, m, attached to the top of the keir.

R are friction-rollers. D are draw-rollers, driven by bevel-wheels W from a shaft, S, run ningalongthekeir,supportedon bracketsB,and carrying a cone, 0, by which the speed may be regulated at will. The centers E of the drawrollers D run through stuffing-boxes or glands X. The frictionand draw rollers R and D are supported on a frame, L M N. The partition P separates the water-space, acting similar to a trap. G are angular guides to keep the fabric open and central on the'rollers, and Y are tension-regulators, which are applied to prevent excessive slackness or strain on the goods. The fabric F is drawn over the friction-roller B, down the tube T, over the series of friction and draw rollers R and D and the guides G, and through the tube T again on the other side of the mid-feather over the'pair of draw and press rollers D and I) to the next maand l and the rod r partly or wholly closes the steam-valve V, thereby reducing the supply of steam which enters the heir through the pipe 1), the nozzle Z, and the perforated pipe 1) at the bottom of the keir.

Z is a nozzle for a draw-oft cock, and O is a man-hole. S and S are shafts to give motion to the overhead draw-rollers D by the bevelwheels W, W W W, W and W.

The keir may be furnished in the ordinary way with pressure-gage, water-gages, and safety-valve.

Fig. 6, Sheet 2, shows another mode of attaching the tube T. Fig. 7 represents the keir placed upright. Fig. 8 is the outline of a vessel prepared to work with a vacuum.

1 claim as my iiweution 1. A closed bleaching-heir provided with guide-rollers and a tube forl'ning a seal-joint, arranged for the passage of the fabric or material to be treated to and from the keir through said tube, which has suitable feed and guide rollers, substantially as described.

' 2. A closed bleaching-heir provided with guide-rollers and a tube forming a seal-joint and containing a mid-feather, m, and arranged for the passage of the fabric or material to and from the keir on opposite sides of the feather through said tube, which has suitable feed and guide rollers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM BIRCH.

Witnesses:

GEORGE DAVIES, CHARLES DAVIES. 

